BIC and STMicroelectronics Announce Back-Up Fuel Cell for Cell Phones

BIC, maker of pens, razors, and lighters, is coming up a fuel cell for mobile devices in partnership with STMicroelectronics.

I'd guess most of us would associate the brand BIC with lighters, razors, and most of all, pens. But it seems BIC is stepping up another level and foraying into the world of alternative energy. In partnership with STMicroelectronics, BIC has been developing a new technology since the year 2005. The technology, a back-up fuel cell for cell phones, is meant for hybrid mobile device power systems. That means the fuel cell is only used when the conventional battery's juice, say a li-ion battery's, is already drained. The fuel cell would understandably be diminutive--about the size of a lighter meant for carrying in a belt pouch due to its purpose. Each cartridge of the fuel cell carries power equivalent to three to five recharges of the usual cell phone battery. No pricing details were given yet, but BIC's hybrid technology has a projected launch date of 2010.